US5230348A — Guide wire for a catheter

Claim 1

Independent Claim 90 words

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a core wire formed from a nickel-titanium alloy having a nickel-titanium ratio by weight in the range of 3:2 to 1:1, the core wire being fashioned such that in a tensile test wherein the core wire is elongated by at least 5%, the core wire has a recovery percentage of at least 90%, and such that elongations of 5% do not cause any martensitic transformations or martensitic reverse transformations; and a sheath for covering at least a distal end of the core wire.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 90 words

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a core wire formed from a nickel-titanium alloy having a nickel-titanium ratio by weight in the range of 3:2 to 1:1, the core wire being fashioned such that in a tensile test wherein the core wire is elongated by at least 5%, the core wire has a recovery percentage of at least 90%, and such that elongations of 5% do not cause any martensitic transformations or martensitic reverse transformations; and a sheath for covering at least a distal end of the core wire.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

The guide wire according to claim 1, wherein the loadelongations characteristics of the nickel-titanium alloy are such that the load increasing rate is either proportional or gradually decreasing throughout the elongation range of 0.8 to 5%.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 46 words

The guide wire according to claim 1, wherein the core wire has such a characteristic that a ratio (B/A) of a value of maximum load loss (B) to a value of maximum load (A) is at most 0.3 in the elongation range of 0% to 5%.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The guide wire according to claim 1, wherein the nickel-titanium alloy consists essentially of nickel and titanium and has a nickel content i the range of 50% to 60% by weight.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The guide wire according to claim 4, wherein the nickel-titanium alloy is produced by a diffusing method and has a nickel content of 55.0% to 57.0%.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 39 words

The guide wire according to claim 1, wherein the nickel-titanium alloy includes a third element selected from a group consisting of copper, aluminum, iron, zinc and cobalt, the third element constituting at most 5% of the alloy by weight.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The guide wire according to claim 1, wherein the core wire has a body portion of 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm in diameter.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 24 words

The guide wire according to claim 1, wherein the core wire has a tapered portion whose cross-sectional area continuously decreases toward the distal end.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

The guide wire according to claim 1, wherein the core wire has an enlarged bulb at the distal end.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

The guide wire according to claim 1, wherein the sheath is made of a macromolecular compound selected from a group consisting of polyurethane, polyethylene, nylon, silicone resin, Teflon, cellulose, starch, and gelatin.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

The guide wire according to claim 1, wherein the temperature in the range of -60° C. and 50° C. does not cause the core wire to make any martensitic transformations or martensitic reverse transformations.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 158 words

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a core wire made of nickel-titanium alloy consisting essentially of nickel and titanium and being produced by a diffusing method, the nickel content of the core wire being in the range of 55.0% to 57.0% by weight; the core wire being fashioned such that in a tensile test wherein the core wire is elongated by at least 5%, the core wire has a recovery percentage of at least 90%, and such that elongations of 5% do not cause any martensitic transformations or martensitic reverse transformations the load-elongations characteristics of the nickel-titanium alloy being such that the load increasing rate is either proportional or gradually decreasing throughout the elongation range of 9% to 5%; and a sheath for covering at least a distal end of the core wire, the sheath being made of a macromolecular compound selected from a group consisting of polyurethane, polyethylene, nylon, silicone resin, polytetrafluoroethylene, cellulose, starch, and gelatin.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 158 words

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a core wire made of nickel-titanium alloy consisting essentially of nickel and titanium and being produced by a diffusing method, the nickel content of the core wire being in the range of 55.0% to 57.0% by weight; the core wire being fashioned such that in a tensile test wherein the core wire is elongated by at least 5%, the core wire has a recovery percentage of at least 90%, and such that elongations of 5% do not cause any martensitic transformations or martensitic reverse transformations the load-elongations characteristics of the nickel-titanium alloy being such that the load increasing rate is either proportional or gradually decreasing throughout the elongation range of 9% to 5%; and a sheath for covering at least a distal end of the core wire, the sheath being made of a macromolecular compound selected from a group consisting of polyurethane, polyethylene, nylon, silicone resin, polytetrafluoroethylene, cellulose, starch, and gelatin.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 48 words

The guide wire according to claim 12, wherein the core wire has a characteristic such that a ratio (B/A) of a value of maximum load loss (B) to a value of maximum load (A) is at most 0.3 in the elongation range of 0% to at least 5%.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 42 words

The guide wire according to claim 12, wherein the core wire has a body portion having a diameter in the range of 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm, and a tapered portion having a cross-sectional area that continuously decreases toward the distal end.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 34 words

The guide wire according to claim 12, wherein the temperature in the range of -60° C. and 50° C. does not cause the core wire to make any martensitic transformations or martensitic reverse transformations.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 134 words

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a core wire formed from a nickel-titanium alloy having a nickel-to-titanium ratio by weight in the range of 3:2 to 1:1, the core wire being produced by subjecting the nickel-titanium alloy to cold drawing to reduce its cross-section by 35% to 50% and heat-treating the cold drawn alloy at a temperature of 350° C. to 400° C. for 10 seconds to 30 seconds, whereby the core wire is fashioned such that in a tensile test in which the core wire is elongated by at least 5%, the core wire has a recovery percentage of at least 90%, and such that elongations of 5% do not cause any martensitic transformations or martensitic reverse transformations; and a sheath for covering at least a distal end of the core wire.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 134 words

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a core wire formed from a nickel-titanium alloy having a nickel-to-titanium ratio by weight in the range of 3:2 to 1:1, the core wire being produced by subjecting the nickel-titanium alloy to cold drawing to reduce its cross-section by 35% to 50% and heat-treating the cold drawn alloy at a temperature of 350° C. to 400° C. for 10 seconds to 30 seconds, whereby the core wire is fashioned such that in a tensile test in which the core wire is elongated by at least 5%, the core wire has a recovery percentage of at least 90%, and such that elongations of 5% do not cause any martensitic transformations or martensitic reverse transformations; and a sheath for covering at least a distal end of the core wire.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-07-26	1997-01-25	1997-07-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-07-26	2001-01-25	2001-07-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-07-26	2005-01-25	2005-07-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Guide wire for a catheter

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